Chapter eighteen A.

The mourning of Laznuss had arrived as I woke to the soft sheets and blankets of my ship cabin. Milly and Sasha had gotten up earlier. The morning was still young; as I went through my pre-dawn routine.

The previous night I had spoken to Timothy about what he had found in the city. There were plenty of slave merchants in the city and a few auction houses. The platinum shackle auction house was the most affluent slave auction house in the city. They specialized in selling the most skilled slaves. They as well handled all the auctions for the fallen nobility and was where the high priestess would be auctioned off the following Dawning.

The other auction houses all dealt with goods and items. Crates and silos were a bulk good auction house and sold raw ore, crops, and other such bulk items. The paragon auction house dealt with the exquisite and rarified items adventurers and skilled craftsmen found or created.

I had also instructed Timothy to find a suitable manor for sale. Finding out that I would be unable to stay on the ship had put a dampener on my plans, and I figured it would be wise to set up a permanent presence in the city. A place where my people could make a home and be more comfortable. They were followers of Amara; after all, hearth and home are a core tenant of their beliefs.

"Good morning master Grayson," May said in the ever-cheerful no-nonsense tone she had as I sat at the breakfast nook in the gally.

"Wonderful morning May, how's the gally this morning?" I asked as the pleasant aromas of breakfast filled the room.

"Going splendidly, master Grayson. Now I'll have a good breakfast out to you in just a moment." May said.

I was brought a delicious omelet with vegetables and of course cossa. As I ate, Holly walked into the galley carrying a large milking jug and handed it to May.

"Good morning master Grayson. How are you?" Holly asked.

"Doing well; you?" I said around a mouth full of food.

"Excellent, this ship truly is wonderful. I never thought I would be able to visit let alone live aboard such a vessel in all my life."

"I'm glad you like it. is the V birth working for you and Zora?"

"Yes, the room is so nice. I felt bad that we have such nice accommodations, then I go to the rooms of the others and...well...everyone has such nice rooms. Enchanted drawers and cabinets, the bathing rooms are splendid as well. I don't think there's a slave alive who has better." Holly said, answering in her deeply melodic voice, the hesitation replaced by true affection.

"Good, I only want the best for you all. You know I think this slavery thing is a barbaric mess. But as long as I'm your master I will see to it that all of you get the best I can provide. It is the least I can do for holding your freedom and lives in my hands." I said, giving her a warm smile. I had long since come to grips that I would not be able to change the ways of the empire quickly, and the fact that freedom terrified most of the slaves only compounded the issue.

"Yes, we all know lord Grayson, very odd. But we endeavor to accept all that master is to give to us."

"On that note is there anything you need or want?"

"Uhm...no I don't think so...I mean..."

"It's ok you can say."

"Zora and me were talking and we both would...like...you to milk us some time." She blurted out softly, hesitating a bit.

"Oh, that. Definitely, I can put that on my to-do list."

I did not understand how the minobous could blush through her white fur, but she did. She bowed her head and quickly left the room.

"Poor thing, she's been dying to ask you that for days now. Zora can barely speak when she thinks about it." May said in a play-full tone from the galley.

"Really? The only reason I haven't is I've been busy. Does it mean that much to them?"

"Oh yes, for an owner to personally milk them. it's the height of honor for a minobous slave. They have a deep-seeded need to feed their loved ones. What you did the first night when you bought us, well, it was one of the nicest and most satisfying things I think you could do for the two of them. It made them feel welcomed and at home; valued and loved if I dare say so, master Grayson." May answered.

"It meant that much. Wow, I had no idea."

"I suspected not, but getting you to milk them again is about all those two girls go on about. Quite adorable." May said as Timothy walked into the room.

"Do the others have anything similar that would make them more at home?" I asked May as Timothy sat at the table with me, and she brought him over a plate of fruit and vegetables with a large glass of milk.

"Humm...well a few... sort of... the fairies are all overjoyed I cook with their personal herbs and spices. I use the fruit from the dryads as well. When they see you eating and enjoying what they have grown and cared for they all take great satisfaction and comfort from that. It makes them believe they have a permanent place with you and that they are useful."

"I have noticed all the plants hanging around the ship. They are well taken care of and I love the aroma."

"I'm sure one of them is listening at the door and they're going to run off and tell the others. Making you happy means they get to stay. You're a wonderful master and the fear of you selling them off makes them work hard."

"Well make sure you let them know I'm not going to sell any of them, ever." I said seriously.

"I know, it will take time for the others to come around though. The kitsune you rescued; are still in shock for the most part. Were all talking to them and giving them little tasks to do like clean windows, straighten and recoil ropes. It reassures them they have something to do and are needed. The mothers are doing much better, they are holed up with Amber and Ray'mea. The little ones are doing much better as well, and the rooms with the attached nursery you made are absolutely beautiful. Amber's been asking when she can personally thank you."

"Having her and the kids happy is thanks enough."

"I think she wants to more personally thank you, master."

"It is to be expected with how well you are treating her and the children. It is quite outside the norm." Timothy said while smiling.

"She knows she doesn't have to do that right?" I asked.

"Oh, she's well aware of that, all of us are. If anything, it's only making some of us want you more." May said while an impish smile crossed her face. The pink hair elf leaned a little more seductively over the counter.

"Well...that's just... Delicious." I stumbled over the words as my other brain began clamoring for attention.

"I'm glad you think so." May said, biting her lip before turning back to the galley.

"So...um...house...yes...you'll be looking." I said distractedly to Timothy.

"Yes, master Grayson. That's the plan for the day, is there somewhere your thinking of in particular in the city?"

"Yessss... the nobles district if possible, I want a larger estate."

"Then I will make inquiry's today and find out what selection I can have prepared for you tomorrow." Timothy said, bowing his head slightly.

Mid-morning found Sasha, Milly, and myself standing once again in front of my new home apartment: 25 - 50. I had explained to Sasha that I needed two slaves to attend me at the college, and she had eagerly volunteered. She had worked with the nobility when she was younger. She had a firm grasp on how to act and what would be expected. She said she was fine with everything that entailed and that she would help guide me also.

Milly, on the other hand, had only ever lived on two farms and had no idea what living amongst the nobility would entail. Sasha had informed her of some of the situations she would be expected to endure, but that had only piqued her interest more.

I knocked politely and then opened the door stepping into the short hallway I had previously rushed through. The apartment had a cozy, refined air to it; as I entered the large sitting and study room. The smell of the florin Strafa's cooking filled the air, and there was a delightful arrangement of breakfast items arrayed on the counter.

"Eric, how wonderful of you to join us this morning." Ashley said, standing from the lounge chair she had been sitting in while she was drinking her cossa.

Rachel came out from her room and said in the same delighted tone, "Lord Grayson, it's a delight to see you this morning. I am very much looking forward to our date today."

"What a pleasure to find you both so eagerly waiting." I said with a knowing grin. The women were in long flowing silk robes with floral prints. They had full sets of lingerie they each wore.

Ashley, upon standing, had undone the knot on her robe, and the soft lacy deep green of her stockings, garter belt, and brazier made her auburn hair radiate with the glow of a forest.

Rachel had come out with her robe open, and the soft blue lace she wore would match her dress wonderfully. Rachel had a petite frame but curvy as well. Her brazier of soft blue outlined her eyes.

"Would you care for some breakfast?" the women offered.

"That would be wonderful." I said. It was another quirk of the world; anything I ate was almost instantly digested and put to the best use by my body; so, I could always eat.

Ashley pulled a chair out at the table, and Faith moved to the counter to create an arrangement of Strafa's cooking for me. The two women joined me, and the three of us sat. Faith, Allie, and Brie prepared plates for us, and I saw Strafa pull Milly and Sasha into the kitchen a bit, so they were out of the way.

"So... Dear husband... which two servants have you decided to bring? I remember your beautiful kitsune, but a bovine'ness?" Ashely said in a light conversational tone.

"Ah yes, Sasha and Milly. Milly produces milk of legendary quality and I have quite the appetite for it. How would you like them to address you?" I offered as both Sasha and Milly came over and curtsied.

"Oh, how wonderful, legendary. That is quite something. You may address me as Mistress Ashley in private and exalted Mistress or lady in public. Understood?" Ashley said in a kind tone.

"Yes, mistress Ashley." They said in unison.

"And you may do the same for me, though if we are engaged intimately, you may call me Rachel." Rachel added.

"Yes, mistress Rachel." They said again.

"I do not want to sound rude, lord Grayson, but it is quite apparent you are not, shall we say, a natural-born citizen of the empire, from where do you hail?" Lady Rachel said politely while taking another bite of food.

I hesitated and looked at Sasha, who immediately leaned over behind me and whispered in my ear, "tell them you are a world walker, but not about your power."

"Is it that apparent. I am from another world altogether, a world walker." I said with an easy nervous smile.

"Really?" Ashley said, her voice filled with shock.

"Yes, in fact, I just arrived on this planet, some twenty or so days ago." I added.

"I have heard rumors but never thought they would be true." Rachel said, looking at me sidelong.

"Hum... a hard thing to prove, but I think we shall take you at your word. You have no reason to lie about such a thing and you have enrolled at the college after all." Ashley said as she looked at Rachel for confirmation.

"There could be reasons, but no... I don't think any of the empire's rivals would be able to have a spy into the college, at least not for long." Rachel added.

"So now that you have my secret, are you two still excited to have me around?"

"Goddess yes, a handsome and mysterious world walker. What lady wouldn't, this will just be more fun now that we know. Not that many others would even believe you, world walkers are a sort of myth after all. Supposedly the founders of the empire were ones as well, some three thousand years ago. The legend says that 'From the mists, they marched, along the sea of stars, five thousand came, a red bull on flag bore their way, from underfoot the beasts did howl, as the first legion marched along the bay, the first legion with standard raised the number nine they did display. Spears and shields formations made; the first legion numbered nine carved the empire along our bay.'" Rachel finished as she recited what sounded like a tavern rhyme.

"The ninth. You're kidding me?" I said, holding back laughter.

"No, it's a very old song, well it is actually a part of the founding history, every child remembers it. About the only part of that boring history, that sticks, the bards sing it to, so it is well known. Why?" Rachel asked.

"The lost legion...well I guess that solves that mystery for me. And explains the empire."

"Lost legion?" Ashley asked.

"Yeah, back on my world, like two thousand years ago. An imperial Roman legion went missing, supposedly they walked into the mists of Caledonia and were never seen again. Sounds like they ended up here." I said, shaking my head.

"Well, that does seem to fit, so you come from another empire?" Rachel asked.

"Not exactly, the roman empire fell a long time ago. I almost forgot I got a gift for you two."

I pulled the four perfumes from my storge ring still in the decorative bag and placed them on the table. The two women's eyes filled with happy surprise as Ashley reached for the bag and pulled the paper from it. When she saw the bottles, her smile grew, and she playfully smirked at Rachel.

"You have good taste, lord Grayson." Rachel said as she sniffed the bottles.

"These are wonderful, but you did purchase them before you met us." Ashley said playfully.

"True, but who better to give them to than my new wives." I said back, still weirded out by the whole concept.

"These smell fantastic, which is for who?" Rachel asked.

"I'm afraid I don't know you well enough to make that choice. I hope you both can enjoy them."

"Anything from the masters at Grand Aroma Thera, are fantastically expensive and wonderful. Oh, the others will be so jealous. These are the large bottles also; I only have one of their fine scents and could only afford their smallest bottle from my stipend. Thank you, Lord Grayson." Rachel said while her face flushed at the gift.

"Yes, they are exquisite. And quite the first meeting gift, lord Grayson, you aim to impress. Thank you." Ashley added, breathing in deeply.

"Faith, why don't you entertain Master Grayson while we go and get ready. Sasha, Milly you can attend lady Rachel and me." Ashley said as we finished breakfast, and they both stood and headed into their rooms to finish getting ready.

"Yes, mistress Ashley." Sasha said while pulling Milly along after her. Brie and Allie went into the back while Strafa finished in the kitchen.

I went and sat in one of the large lounge chairs, and Faith happily came over and sat in my lap. Draping herself across me and wrapping her arms around me. The pink-haired elf was soft and warm. She kissed my neck and nuzzled me as I held her.

She cuddled me, allowing the relaxing sensation of her pressed against me to wash over me. It was not uncomfortable and passed the time in silent companionable enjoyment.